The effects of hearing loss in seniors and what we can do to help

“The secret of a good old age is simply an honourable pact with solitude.” – Gabriel García Márquez

These lines sadly represent the most senior citizens out there. They have made a pact with solitude when they have reached a ripe old age after going through diverse phases of life. After fighting several wars, difficulties and breathtaking situations throughout the life; finally, when they were ought to be loved most, they ended up making peace with solitude.

There are many reasons as to why this happens but one of the major problems among all that senior citizens face is the problem of hearing. I can’t possibly think of any problem worse than this. It is the hearing loss which separates a person or cuts him off from the other people. Victims of this problem are more prone to dangerous states of – depression, loneliness, feeling of insecurity and loss of social life.

Over the years it has been seen that seniors with problem of loss of hearing feel and state that they have lower quality of life as compared to others because as this problem bounds them to react slowly to any kind of situation, the younger generation or people who don’t go through this take it for granted that they have lost their interest and abilities which is not at all the case. It is the hearing loss which makes them slow and sadly enough when they see other people around not responding them much, they get hurt and feel bad about themselves thus making them feel alone and depressed.

Though everyone goes through little or huge stress through the stages of life stress becomes a routine experience to such people because they have to try hard and go through hardships even in mundane tasks such as hearing medical advice and precautions from doctors or in case of financial matters when something important is being discussed.

We need to take a step forward towards this problem as soon as possible because – “About 25% of those aged between 65 to 74 have significant hearing loss.”

Also, let’s not forget that those who have a significant loss in hearing are advised not to go at public places. Reason being that in case of emergency if sirens are wailed and there is a chaos, they won’t be able to make it fast. I agree this is true but is this the only solution? NO. This only leads to sadness, loneliness and depression further and many of them turn up to bad habits such as alcohol addiction.

The need of the hour is to hear and be heard! We have to assist them by providing hearing aids which fit into ear enhancing the hearing experience and also help them with other medical assistance. In today’s day and age, hearing aids have advanced to fantastic levels. You can get ‘invisible hearing aids’ which are so small they will not be noticed from the outside, hearing aids that improve the hearing so well that someone who could barely hear anything will be able to hear everything!

Let’s support them, talk to them, join them on trips to places they want to visit and be with them whenever possible. Let’s not make everyone just hear, let’s listen and make them listen and make life better for everyone.